Beirut, Lebanon -June 2024 has been confirmed as the hottest on record by the Copernicus Climate Change Service, marking the 13th consecutive month of record-breaking global temperatures. Kenzie Azmi, Campaigns Lead for “Stop Drilling, Start Paying” at Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, commented “This is deeply alarming. We are witnessing the severe impacts of heatwaves in our region, from water scarcity in Algeria [1] to droughts in Iraq [2], and electricity [3] and water cuts [4] in several countries. Under an unfolding genocide, Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from heat strokes [45], dehydration, and a heightened risk of disease. Additionally, Sudanese refugees [6] and Hajj pilgrims [7]faced extreme heat fatalities. This multifaceted crisis highlights the urgent need for climate action and accountability from international oil companies. The repercussions of extreme heat in our region [8]are comprehensive and will intensify in severity and duration, eventually becoming the new normal.
Azmi added: “Worse yet is the realization that marginalized communities, already battling social injustices, are most affected by climate injustice. All while major international oil companies and their host countries, responsible for a major share of historical global emissions [9] and thus the crisis we face today, continue to reap profits [10] and avoid accountability instead of taking serious actions to reduce emissions and protect the environment and our wellbeing.
We ask governments to hold international oil companies like BP, Shell, Total, and ExxonMobil accountable and make them pay for the losses and damages they cause and for a shift to a just transition that ensures social and climate justice is safeguarded. “
As temperatures keep rising to historic highs due to climate change, wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe in almost every region of the world. Therefore, it is necessary to spread awareness on how to prevent and deal with them. It is common knowledge that the culprit is climate change, so let us be prepared!